Danielle Wood

Deep South

Stories from Tasmania

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Tasmania is another country—a lush, sometimes foreboding island with a people fiercely protective of its history, culture and creativity.

Spanning two centuries of writing, this collection brings together the finest stories about Tasmania. Twenty-four diverse and fascinating stories showcase the island’s colonial past, its darkness and humour, and the unique beauty and savagery of its landscape.

Both a must-read for enthusiasts of Australian literature and a perfect gift for lovers of Tasmania, Deep South comes with a critical introduction from the editors and biographical sketches of the contributors.

Reviews for Deep South

‘[A] beautiful anthology.’

– Saturday Age

‘[A] beautifully presented short-story collection….Co-editor Danielle Wood does have a wonderful contemporary story in the book, portraying a sleep-deprived new mother coming to terms with the changes in her world. Wood manages to merge the contours and endlessness of Tasmania with the mother’s sense of being lost to herself.’

– Readings Monthly

Mothers Grimm

Sly, cheeky and blackly comic, this quartet of long stories takes the threads of old stories and weaves them into something entirely new. A catalogue of heartache, heartbreak, desire, love and death, it brings the mothers of ‘Rapunzel’, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, ‘Briar Rose’ and ‘The Goose Girl’ into the here and now. Happy endings not guaranteed.

Housewife Superstar

The Very Best of Marjorie Bligh

Since fate gave her little choice but to become a housewife, Marjorie Bligh determined to be the best the world had ever seen. As she racked up blue ribbons in the domestic arts competitions of Tasmania’s agricultural shows, a rumour arose that she was the inspiration behind Dame Edna Everage. This, her true story, was shortlisted for an award for research excellence.

Rosie Little’s Cautionary Tales for Girls

Not for good girls, this collection of contemporary fairy tales advises young adventurers on the dangers one might encounter when steeping off the trodden path to grandmother’s house. A contemporary Little Red, Rosie Little shares with you her piquant stories of dating and mating, desire and destiny. A Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist of the Year pick for 2007.

The Alphabet of Light and Dark

A love letter to the island of Lutruwita/Tasmania, The Alphabet of Light and Dark is an exploration of the complexities of past and place, dispossession and belonging. Melding family and colonial history, and composed in evocative and lyrical prose, it won the Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award in 2002.

Island Story

Tasmania in Object and Text

This compendium pairs diverse and fascinating objects from the collection of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery with fine writing from Tasmania’s rich literary scene. The ‘inspired juxtaposition’ of object and text guides the reader/viewer on an unexpected tour of the nature, culture, art and history of the island state.

Danielle lives and works on Mumirimina, Muwinina and Melukerdee country. She acknowledges with deep respect the Palawa people who are the traditional owners of Lutruwita/Tasmania.

© 2026 Danielle Wood

Website by Lightsmith Media

Photography by Karen Brown